I try to avoid Giant Food in Vienna and only go when they are the only store that has what I want. I try to live without these items sometimes and probably will for the near future. I will gladly pay extra for the same product at another store to keep me out of Giant.

It mainly comes down to the long lines, automatic checkout and surly attitude of their employees. A simple fix would be to raise prices to pay for more checkers who want to work there. I don't get the same attitude at other food stores plus the automatic checkers are a nightmare with people paying with cash and using coupons slows everything down. I can't believe Safeway and Magrudars couldn't compete. There has to be more people the feel the same way I do.

It's not really their attitude. It's that they hire a bunch of high school kids and functional idiots.

We like to joke about the lady who's constantly saying, "Thank you. Thank you," for no reason to no one in particular.

The ones down in Oakton aren't much better, with the mildly mentally disabled guy screaming at you, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO DONATE $1 TO SAVE A CHILD TODAY?!!!!"

I also detest how every neighborhood group, from cheerleaders to Cub Scouts, stakes out the front of the doors and makes you run the gauntlet to get in. It's like extortion. Don't pay the fees for their summer camp and you can't buy your food.

I agree. Giant is the worst. Safeway on 29 isn't much better, though...

P.S. Man, I miss Magruders. You want to talk about surly? Those people had it in spades. But there was no pretense. It was discount shopping.

Best part was you could drive there, park, get what you needed, and be gone in 10 minutes or less. No way you can do that with the slow assed lines at Giant and the abomination of a parking lot...

Thanks for the support. I look around in Giant and wonder if all the customers are drones but I figure its not worth it to them to travel a distance to another store for normal everyday items you don't want to spend too much for. The shame is I'm within walking distance of Giant but won't go in anymore. Boycott for life or until they throw out all but a couple automatic cashiers. If enough people boycotted they probably still wouldn't get the message.

No, Giant knows they have the Town of Vienna by the balls ever since Safeway closed up shop. Where else are you going to go for real groceries? Whole Foods? Yeah, if I want to pay for overpriced Belgian Ales and seafood and deal with prototypical snooty Vienna attitudes. Fresh Market? Their selection sucks as well. I used to drive out to Harris Teeter on Route 50, but they're overpriced, too. Safeway is actually the best, but it's farther to drive and their checkout lines are just as long. However, the customer service there is light years better. (I take back what I said earlier. I remember telling one cashier what a great job she was doing. To the best of my knowledge, Safeway does not hire criminals, meth addicts, or mentally challenged people like Giant apparently does. Just kidding. Not really...)

take the self checkout if you dont like the employees. the old safeway was an abomination, 15 people deep, one checkout line open, not to mention dirtier than a DC back alley.

go to the hairless peeter in tysons or the pan am safeway instead, unless you live across the street from the giant you dont have an excuse.

the wannabe fresh fields, fresh market, is another option.

Dear Children - Your whining about Giant reminds me when your diapers were in need of service. Giant is part of Vienna and they do their bit. The fact that they hire mildly disabled staff is actually commendable - if you can't handle their mild eccentricities perhaps your need of accommodation is greater.

Almost anything was better than the old Magruder's. It was run-down and filthy......'m surprised that the health department didn't close down that store years ago. In fact, it's hard to beat Giant for a wide choice of goods, nice people, plenty of parking, and reasonable prices. The only real problem at Giant is the customers themselves.....WAY too many people make WAY too many excuses why, when they load up their cars, they just leave the carts in the middle of the lot, right next to their cars, and drive off. The carts then rust and deteriorate in the rain/snow, and are expensive to replace, causing the stores to have to raise prices as a result.

Vance Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, Giant knows they have the Town of Vienna by
> the balls ever since Safeway closed up shop.
> Where else are you going to go for real groceries?
> Whole Foods? Yeah, if I want to pay for
> overpriced Belgian Ales and seafood and deal with
> prototypical snooty Vienna attitudes. Fresh
> Market? Their selection sucks as well. I used to
> drive out to Harris Teeter on Route 50, but
> they're overpriced, too. Safeway is actually the
> best, but it's farther to drive and their checkout
> lines are just as long. However, the customer
> service there is light years better. (I take back
> what I said earlier. I remember telling one
> cashier what a great job she was doing. To the
> best of my knowledge, Safeway does not hire
> criminals, meth addicts, or mentally challenged
> people like Giant apparently does. Just kidding.
> Not really...)

Whole Foods, though, actually beats Giant on some prices now, and they carry a number of specialized vitamins/suppliments that you won't find at Giant. They used to be expensive like Harris Teeter, but, for some reason, have recently lowered their prices. Their parking lot in Vienna, though, with its limited spaces and steep hills, is a nightmare compared to the Oakton or Vienna Giants. I usually shop there when I'm using the library right next door......I just walk right over, get what I need, and leave my car in the library lot.

is that wannabe store still open??